Population Growth Affects Contra Costa Redistricting
MARTINEZ (KCBS) – The last ten years have seen substantial population growth in East Contra Costa and the Dougherty Valley, which is expected to impact redistricting for the supervisorial districts in the county.
By law, supervisorial districts have to be redrawn. Catherine Kutsuris, director of the Contra Costa Conservation and Development Department, said the county is now preparing for a change that could be similar to what happened in the year 2000.
"We're seeing this continuation of the trend that we saw last time and I would expect that you're going to see boundaries throughout the county shifting," she said.
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
Kutsuris said public workshops will be held in the next few months, but more importantly, residents may get access on their home computers to propose changes in political boundaries.
"You give them the tools so that they can do it themselves," said Kutsuris. "And if you do that, you put them in the best position so that they can submit comments and proposals."
She said that East County and the Dougherty Valley, which sit in districts 5 and 3 respectively, will likely have to shrink to provide a greater balance with the remaining three districts.
Supervisors could make a final decision on redistricting by late July.
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